Friday, December 3rd 2021

Windows 11 a Flop, Survey Claims Less Than 1% Upgraded, Microsoft Improves Start Menu

Microsoft Windows 11, now nearing its third month since release, is for all intents and purposes, a flop. Market research by Lansweeper, which surveyed over 10 million PCs across the commercial and personal market segments, reports that less than 0.21% of the users it surveyed, had upgraded from Windows 10 to the newer operating system. The upgrade is free of charge. There may be several factors contributing to this lukewarm market response, but one of them is certain to he the steep hardware requirements. Windows 11 requires a trusted platform module (TPM 2.0), which disqualifies PCs older than 2018 for upgrades, unless the user is willing to try out workarounds to the limitation. Another factor could be the clunky user interface (UI), a less functional Start menu than Windows 10, and several UI-related bugs.

According to Lansweeper's data, there could be more people running outdated Windows XP, Vista, Windows 8, etc., than Windows 11, and this poses a great security risk, as these operating systems are no longer supported by Microsoft for regular security updates. Windows 10, on the other hand, is eligible for them until mid-2025—plenty of time for people to upgrade hardware to meet Windows 11 system requirements, or to simply make up their mind on switching over to the new operating system. In related news, Microsoft could give the Windows 11 Start menu a functional update. Test build 22509 introduces the ability to add more pins to the menu, or make room for more recommendations. The UI could see many such minor updates.
Sources: Tech Radar PRO, HotHardware
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393 Comments on Windows 11 a Flop, Survey Claims Less Than 1% Upgraded, Microsoft Improves Start Menu

#201
lexluthermiester
chrcolukI dont know if this will work on Win 11.
It works. All of my Windows 11 installs are running with automatic updates disabled.
Tiggeri can obviously pause update for 5 weeks at a time. i mean stop them altogether.
See my response..
RaceJayMicrosoft needs to lower their minimum spec on CPU down to 2nd generation Intel Core...
Why? The work-arounds allow installation to any CPU.
Posted on Reply
#202
RaceJay
lexluthermiesterWhy? The work-arounds allow installation to any CPU.
Not all people are tech savvy enough to apply those work-arounds accordingly... most just see the "This PC doesn't currently meet the minimum system requirements to run Windows 11" message and assume that they need to buy a brand new and updated system...
Posted on Reply
#203
exodusprime1337
This is a bit disingenuous given that Lansweeper is primarily installed into a corp environment which of course won't be upgrading to Win11 right away....
Posted on Reply
#204
lexluthermiester
RaceJayNot all people are tech savvy enough to apply those work-arounds accordingly...
They are not difficult. It only takes bit of reading and following of directions.
Posted on Reply
#205
Raiden85
I love settings UI refresh and rounded corners, but what I absolutely hate and that's 100% fixable with startallback thank christ.

1: Explorer UI ribbon absolutely crap, Windows 10 ribbon design was way more useful.

2: Have to use show more settings when right clicking to have basic options or even show the nvidia settings button, what prat designed this?

3: Right clicking on the taskbar has all the options removed so I'm forced to right click on the start button, horrible design choice.

4: In 11 I can no longer ungroup program/folder icons on the taskbar so I'm forced to show icons instead of the individual open program/folders with their names, another horrible UI choice that the user can't even change this time like I could in 10, so rapidly switching open things on the taskbar now requires and extra step by hovering over the icon to see what's on it.

Thankfully startallback restores all that basic functionality, but I shouldn't be forced to use a 3rd party program because of a pathetic UI experience that has worked fine for decades.

Whoever signed off on these new UI choices that can't be changed without 3rd party software needs to be shot.
Posted on Reply
#206
R-T-B
lexluthermiesterThey are not difficult. It only takes bit of reading and following of directions.
Bold of you to assume the average consumer reads.
Posted on Reply
#207
BluesFanUK
I'll be upgrading from Windows 11 to Windows 10. What a cluster**** this is. No folder preview for things containing photos and videos is a massive PITA.
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#208
lexluthermiester
R-T-BBold of you to assume the average consumer reads.
Then let the morons suffer. For those of us who teach, it's not our fault if the students don't listen, read and learn...
Posted on Reply
#209
TheinsanegamerN
lexluthermiesterThey are not difficult. It only takes bit of reading and following of directions.
Installing linux is not difficult

Changing spark plugs is not difficult

Dissassembling and cleaning a furnace is not difficult.

Lots of things in life are not difficult. Just because YOU can do it with your eyes shut does not mean 99% of people A) have that level of confidence and B) are interested and willing enough to put the effort in.

And as a beside, with MS stating they will not update 11 installations installed on unsupported systems, every time a major update comes out you'll need to manually installs the update. That's taking the inconvenience of auto updates in the total wrong direction. And there is no gurarantee that MS wont break said installation later, in the same way you can run a windows 10 install on a pentium III, there is 0 guarantee you can keep it working, which is what 99% of users want.
Posted on Reply
#210
Unregistered
If you install Win 11 on a unsupported system, how can you complain if it does not run properly.
#211
lexluthermiester
TheinsanegamerNInstalling linux is not difficult

Changing spark plugs is not difficult

Dissassembling and cleaning a furnace is not difficult.

Lots of things in life are not difficult. Just because YOU can do it with your eyes shut does not mean 99% of people A) have that level of confidence and B) are interested and willing enough to put the effort in.

And as a beside, with MS stating they will not update 11 installations installed on unsupported systems, every time a major update comes out you'll need to manually installs the update. That's taking the inconvenience of auto updates in the total wrong direction. And there is no gurarantee that MS wont break said installation later, in the same way you can run a windows 10 install on a pentium III, there is 0 guarantee you can keep it working, which is what 99% of users want.
Ladies & gentlemen, we are presented with a text-book strawman argument. But let's take each point in turn.
TheinsanegamerNInstalling linux is not difficult
That depends on the version of Linux in question.
TheinsanegamerNChanging spark plugs is not difficult
That greatly depends on the vehicle in question.
TheinsanegamerNDissassembling and cleaning a furnace is not difficult.
That is patently false, steamy cow-pat.
TheinsanegamerNhave that level of confidence
It doesn't take a whole lot of courage to follow simple instructions. It's takes reading and comprehension of what is being read..
TheinsanegamerNare interested and willing enough to put the effort in
Then those people do not qualify in this situation anyway.
TheinsanegamerNwith MS stating they will not update 11 installations installed on unsupported systems
What they are saying and what they are doing are two very different things. Not one update that has been released has failed to be applied successfully on the "unsupported" systems I'm testing. While that might change, it is very unlikely for many very good reasons.
TheinsanegamerNwhich is what 99% of users want
Laughable notion. You are not a god. As such you can not possibly know what "99%" of people want. And with all of the upgrade installs to "unsupported" hardware I've done in the last two months, I can confidently say you are nowhere near the 99% mark.
Posted on Reply
#212
InVasMani
lexluthermiesterThey are not difficult. It only takes bit of reading and following of directions.
Does it come with quest markers!?

Welcome to MicroQuest 11 just follow the directions and we'll set you right up on your adventure to CandyCrush re-installation over at sector seven. Did you try to uninstall Cortona you're crazy like Mary do you wanna reinstall it no oh em gee too bad we did it anyway. Would you like to upgrade your telemetry background service while you wait as we update you with the browser you don't like and lock down the system so you can't use Mozilla no sweat we're on it. At MicroQuest we pride ourselves at making your OS a treacherous adventure navigating the internet. Would like to see another pop ad followed by another in a minute every minute of course we don't care you're going to anyway! Enjoy the user experience soon you level and we'll be ready to nag you twice as quickly with updates and virus scans. Welcome to MicroQuest 11 just follow the directions and we'll set you right up on your adventure to CandyCrush where everything you installed is new again!
Posted on Reply
#213
windwhirl
InVasManiDoes it come with quest markers!?

Welcome to MicroQuest 11 just follow the directions and we'll set you right up on your adventure to CandyCrush re-installation over at sector seven. Did you try to uninstall Cortona you're crazy like Mary do you wanna reinstall it no oh em gee too bad we did it anyway. Would you like to upgrade your telemetry background service while you wait as we update you with the browser you don't like and lock down the system so you can't use Mozilla no sweat we're on it. At MicroQuest we pride ourselves at making your OS a treacherous adventure navigating the internet. Would like to see another pop ad followed by another in a minute every minute of course we don't care you're going to anyway! Enjoy the user experience soon you level and we'll be ready to nag you twice as quickly with updates and virus scans. Welcome to MicroQuest 11 just follow the directions and we'll set you right up on your adventure to CandyCrush where everything you installed is new again!
I swear I read all that with Steve Ballmer's voice.

Look up Windows 1.0's commercial by Steve Ballmer, btw, it's a gem :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#214
mama
My system says the update is available to install but that I will be advised when the free update will be ready. Still waiting after three months...
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#215
bug
mamaMy system says the update is available to install but that I will be advised when the free update will be ready. Still waiting after three months...
Waiting for what, exactly? There's no feature to look forward for and the update isn't going away anytime soon (if ever). Personally, I'm waiting hoping Microsoft will relent on that online account requirement. I don't have a problem with telemetry, but I would rather they didn't upload my stuff onto their servers as they please.
Posted on Reply
#216
mama
I understand HDR is implemented better.
Posted on Reply
#217
chrcoluk
The online account it wouldnt surprise me if all the code is still in place for local accounts and they may have just removed the option from the firstrun screen.

If I am right, probably fixable with ntlite.
Posted on Reply
#218
lexluthermiester
bugPersonally, I'm waiting hoping Microsoft will relent on that online account requirement.
You don't need to. If you want a local account on Windows 11 Home, there is a proven method(aside from using Pro and staying offline during installation). Would you like a run down here?
chrcolukIf I am right, probably fixable with ntlite.
That is one option.
Posted on Reply
#219
bug
lexluthermiesterYou don't need to. If you want a local account on Windows 11 Home, there is a proven method(aside from using Pro and staying offline during installation). Would you like a run down here?
I wouldn't mind one, thank you.
Posted on Reply
#220
Chrispy_
They need to abandon the W11 UI and start again. It's just awful in so many areas - usability is worse, clarity is worse, information density is worse, everything is buried behind more clicks, there is so much wasted space throughout the entire UI, nobody* likes it - it's a solid failure in every way possible to categorise.

As for the control panel, they're obfuscating it further despite still being 100% reliant on it. They STILL haven't f*cking finished migrating everything to the settings app, so why bury it further if it's an unavoidable requirement. Rather than finish doing what they promised to do with Windows 8 nine years ago and replace it completely, they're just hurting their current UI and user experience by delaying the inevitable and running this schizophrenic bullshit solution that pushes the settings app in your face despite it lacking the required functionality to actually change half the settings you're looking for.

If I were a teacher grading Windows 11 as Microsoft's homework assignment I'd tear it up and throw it in the trash as they watched. "Do it again properly otherwise you're going to be meeting with the principal about your bad attitude to your work!"

* - I've yet to see a single streamer, reviewer, vlogger, blogger, forum post anywhere stating that someone thinks it's better than W10's interface.
Posted on Reply
#221
Octopuss
The control panel vs settings page is something I am absolutely stunned by. Like what the fuck have you been doing for over five years, moving maybe two things to the new place in every major update?
That's one of the most bizarre aspects of Windows 10 I can think of.
Posted on Reply
#222
bug
OctopussThe control panel vs settings page is something I am absolutely stunned by. Like what the fuck have you been doing for over five years, moving maybe two things to the new place in every major update?
That's one of the most bizarre aspects of Windows 10 I can think of.
It's a sign of the mess behind the control panel :(
Honestly, the control panel itself is way more usable than the new one. Slap a search feature in it and it's good for another 10 years.
Posted on Reply
#223
Chrispy_
Octopusswhat the fuck have you been doing for over five years
Whilst you're technically not wrong, it's about ten years, it was supposed to be completed for the beta testing of Windows 8. How were people supposed to beta test the new settings if they didn't exist and were still in the old control panel?

Moving one or two things per year is so slow that they won't be done for another 15 years at that pace.
Posted on Reply
#224
bug
Chrispy_Whilst you're technically not wrong, it's about ten years, it was supposed to be completed for the beta testing of Windows 8. How were people supposed to beta test the new settings if they didn't exist and were still in the old control panel?

Moving one or two things per year is so slow that they won't be done for another 15 years at that pace.
Has anything actually moved? It feels like all the old settings are still in place, the new UI only duplicates some of the old ones and adds some that didn't exist before.
Posted on Reply
#225
Chrispy_
bugHas anything actually moved? It feels like all the old settings are still in place, the new UI only duplicates some of the old ones and adds some that didn't exist before.
I think the layout of the settings menu has changed, possibly beacuse of the extra white space and padding they insist on polluting the interface with, meaning the links to the control panel parts that aren't yet in the settings app are now not shown until you scroll down or maximise the settings window.

I've also noticed that searching the start menu for control panel functions doesn't give results any more, it pushes you only at settings. They are trying to push people towards the settings app but we don't use the control panel by choice, we use it because we have to - Microsoft haven't finished making the alternative after a decade of seemingly pissing into the wind.
Posted on Reply
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